Record-breaking Five Kidney Transplants in 24 Hours Performed at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s

January 29, 2016 9:16 pm

One of the record-setting five kidney recipients, Brenda Barr, sits between her husband and her daughter, grateful for another lease on life without dialysis.

Congratulations and thank you to all the Mercy Health staff who collaborated to set the record of five kidney transplants in a single 24-hour period!

From 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 26, to 3 a.m. on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, Mercy Health Transplant Center performed five kidney transplants, all unplanned from deceased donors.

“It took all the units and teams working together in surgery, post-op, pre-op – all the different areas – to come together, get organized and allow us to bring in five deceased donors’ kidneys,” said Michael Hofmann, MD, of Renal Associates, who helped organize the day’s events. “It was a long day, but it was very rewarding to know that we are helping out five people get off dialysis and on to better lives.”

During a media conference held at the hospital on Friday, January 29, one of the five transplant recipients, Brenda Barr, praised the work of the hospital staff: “I can’t say enough good things about the staff here. It was neat to be a part of history. It was really exciting when I got that call from the Transplant team, telling me, ‘We have a kidney for you.'”

Barr had been on dialysis for the past six years before she received this life-changing kidney.

Simie Bredeweg, MSN, transplant coordinator who ensured that Mercy Health could accept all the kidneys, praised staff for their ability to prioritize and focus on the task at hand. “We were tired, but everyone put that aside, knowing that they will be saving people’s lives by working to accept these transplants.”

All five kidney recipients are doing well and have not needed dialysis since their transplants.

During a typical year, Mercy Health Kidney Transplant Center performs 80-90 transplants, and in January 2016 alone, the team performed 20 transplants.